Old Bishop Georg Schulz DD, was a friend of my father all along. Writing on occasion of his predecessor as superintendent of the Free Evangelical Lutheran Missions in Southern Africa Rev. Christoph Johannes’ (Salem) birthday, he quoted CJ himself: “One should not write too much about the living” and quipped: “Well, old CJ will just have to endure this despite his distaste for eulogies”.

Thank God my father is still alive and hopefully I will see him tomorrow at the engagement celebrations down in Lueneburg. It’s a good thing the Americans celebrate Father’s Day in June and not like the Germans tied to the Ascension Holiday. It’s really a confusion of issues. I am very grateful that my father was such a good father and like Matthias Matussek wrote in “Welt” today, my father was also so unconditionally helpful, confidently pious and even wisely understanding – and I do thank God for him.

There are many things I recall of my father – like calling him from the office, where he was typing away to give another piano lesson on Saturday morning or join us all for the regular meals in the house or seeing him walking up to church in Enhlanhleni every Saturday afternoon in his black gown to conduct the divine service for the Seminarians in seTswana or him waiting in the VW combi to pick us up from school on Fridays or joining the family for tea after the Sunday service. He even taught me to drive even though I’m still working on slowing down like he regularly did.

He took lots of time for us – joining us at athletic competitions against Lueneburg (where my future wife actually was part of the tug-o-war team to beat us skinny boys from Uelzen), driving our class on expeditions into the Drakensberg or down to Durban or to see the film “Tom Saywer” in the Dundee biscope – or just to drive us to school or pick us up from there – every 2/3 weeks or so, every term, every year for more than a decade. As a matter of course he was there, when we were taken up at emergencies in the Dundee hospital after Rugby or horse riding casualties, but also when the matrons overstepped the mark and got us whipped by her son-in-law for some or other misdemeanor like swimming in the dams close by and drying up again by playing tennis on the courts down at the cemetery.

Following in his footsteps as a hunter, pastor and eventually teacher at the Seminary of the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa has made me appreciate even more, what he did and still does in preaching, teaching, writing and translation for more than a half a century. He continues to listen, to advise and also to pray for us and the Church + I thank God for him and his dear wife. They are as good parents as you could wish and hope for!

Here are some pictures of my father and loving dad, whom I only call: “Papa”, but did not start photographing until I came to Pretoria really. So these photos are mainly from the past decade only and my father was grey already. It was not always like that!

My Father: Rev. E.A. Weber DD

Hunting in Elandskraal

Pastors in St. Timothy Chapel during Doxology

On the steps of St. Paul during the LCSA Pastor’s convention 2014

Together with his dear wife and our lovely mother Karin

During the LCSA synod in Wartburg/Kirchdorf (KZN) in 2012

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Pointing out deceased pastors …

With his old student colleague (Rev. Stilfried Niebuhr) and his godson Rev Markus Nietzke

In front of St. Peter & Paul LC

Visiting what’s left of Botshabelo

Confirmation of Detlev M. G. Weber

Teaching at the LTS

Together with Rev. Jabulani Nkosi at UP

Together with his distant cousin Werner Weber

With his siblings Gerhard and Marie-Luise (Maisa)

Enjoying the pranks of Odirileng Sengwaketse

Working in Murrayfield

Relaxing in Murrayfield

Out in Pilanesberg

His 80th birthday

In Welbedacht with his children

Friederikes Confirmation

At their golden Anniversary with the main organizer – his daugther Ruthi

Together with brother Gerhard

Together with sister Marie-Luise

Ready for the LCSA Pastor’s convention at the Good Shepherd retreat centre

Reading a paper at the LCSA convention

Putting across a serious issues while his sons listen attentively

Christoph’s confirmation

Peter’s ordination in Ohlangeni

Photosession with Elmar Flor from Brazil in Murrayfield

Visiting the Africa Institute for Missions with the LTS

Confirmation at the Seminary Congregation in Arcadia

Taking part in the graduation at LTS

Lighter moments with Peach

Enjoying the last sunlight at Welbedacht

With the Slenczkas in Murrayfield

Dr. Daniel Mattson (LCMS WM) was a long-time neighbour of theirs in Enhlanhleni

Robert’s confirmation in Shelly Beach

His son-in-law keeping him good company

David’s confirmation

Deep in thought with Bernhard-Daniel

His 80th birthday in Welbedacht – here with his children.

In Camp Buffalo

At our wedding

With senior students at LTS

Translating in the library

Launch of the Book of Concord – Dr. Ishmael Noko (LWF) sitting in front of him.

Signing the Book of Concord at its launch at UP

Mother pointing things out to him along the Olifants river (KNP)

Having breakfast along the way

Gerrie’s wedding

With President Timothy Scharr in Kirchdorf

Sitting with his son Christoph at the LCSA convention 2012

At the first pastor’s convention (Pastor’s Refresher) organized by the LTS in Tshwane

Handing a copy of translation to Rev. John Fehrmann (LHF)

On the bridge crossing the Olifants in KNP 2013

Not fussy about his working conditions …

Preaching at the LTS

Meeting President Randy Golter from the Rocky Mountain District

His great-grandfather

His grandfather

Translating with pastors Eliot Sithole and Muswawenkosi Mntambo

Together with his long-term colleague from Enhlanhleni Rev. Dave Schneider and his wife Daleen and student Rev. E.Sithole PhD

With daughter Renate

With President Herbert Mueller of SID

His work station

Wedding in Wittenberg, South Africa in 1959

With his grandson Christoph J.W.

Another graduation with Vicar Frank Kainerugaba

T.Doe Johnson was the first MTh graduate of our Seminary at UP

Together with missionaries Hugo Gevers and Professor William Schuhmacher